HOME River Valley Issue 2

LEILANI DEEM’S

Historic Home

AN ITALIANTE DREAM

PHOTOS BY PHILIP HOOPER

Our friend and historic home expert, Philip R. Hooper with Berkshire Hathaway, brought this gorgeous Italiante Home to our attention. Philip lets us in on his passion for this home, “Just as there are vast architectural differences between the 1950s and the 1990s, homes of the 1850s will showcase different details and floor plans as opposed to later Victorian homes of the 1890s. This place exudes the 1850s with its deep door panels and intricate multi-piece window and door moldings – topped off with a fluted 2 inch dowel that faces the doorways like a breaking, barreled wave. The exterior form of the house is rooted in the early Victorian

preferences for stoops over large, room-like covered porches, with a now-converted sleeping porch on the rear of the hole, much like you would find in Philadelphia or New Orleans. Like great architecture of any age, it’s certainly a home that can take your mind off of the here and now. It’s simply marvelous.”

Recently owned by cake artist, Leilani Deem and her husband, the couple spent years putting their signature touches on this gorgeous grand dame. In her words, “We had the privilege for five years residing in this beautiful piece of architectural history located in Evansville’s historical district. I never ceased to admire the passion and craftsmanship that has been poured into this home through the years. We continued to restore its legacy with updates to both kitchens and putting in a beautiful, peaceful patio and garden area.” Built in 1852, the Italianate townhome underwent a thoughtful renovation including refinished wood floors, a custom white quartz island table with built-in storage in the dining room, exceedingly rare honed Blue Bahia granite to the kitchen island, new cabinets to the soaring main floor laundry room, a brand new kitchen to the second floor bonus room, and a flooring update upstairs that includes Tennessee marble in the sleeping porch conversion as well as the rear full bath. Evansville connoisseurs will recognize some of the marble in the home and its distinct grain - it's the exact quarry match for the signature marble floors in the Vanderburgh County Old Courthouse! The home's thick masonry construction, twelve foot ceilings, and substantial wood moldings give you an aweinspiring entry. Old world details such as arched pocket doors, a butler’s pantry and a breakfast room pack in the historic charm. But our favorite detail is the sleeping porch, used in the by-gone times of no air-conditioning. To beat the heat, families would sleep out on the porch to catch any stray breezes and escape the humidity of the house. The house was built by a father and son just before the Civil War erupted where the father ultimately died. The house is a legacy to his vision and passion for gorgeous architectural design.